Plattie The Platypus

This is a simple project for beginners. You can sew your platypus on machine, over locker or by hand. I like to use fleece as it makes the platypus so cute and cuddly, but you can use any scraps of material for the feet and bill.

Instructions

Step 2: Glue the pattern pages onto card or thick paper and cut out the pattern pieces to make your templates.

Lay the fabric right side down and place your templates onto the wrong side of the fabric following the layout guide. Trace the templates with a permanent marker and cut out your pieces. (Press lightly or the ink will smudge and may even show through your material on the right side.) Cut the BILL and FEET pieces from purple patterned corduroy, and cut the UPPER BODY and UNDERBELLY pieces from pink fleece.

* Always sew pieces with right sides together and use a 5mm/1/4 inch seam allowance. Sew the FEET pieces together on the sewing line. Cut around the sewing line with a 5mm/1/4 inch seam and turn right sides out. I like to use an old wooden chopstick as my turning tool!

Step 3: Sew the UPPER BODY pieces together from A to B. I use lots of pins and pin from one side then put pins in between from the other side. This stops the fleece from slipping as you sew.

Step 4: Sew the dart in the UPPER BILL piece, and then sew this to the UPPER BODY pieces from E to F. Sew the BILL BASE piece to the UNDERBELLY PIECE from C to D.

Step 5: Place and pin all 4 feet in position (Toes facing towards the middle!). Pin and sew the UPPER BODY pieces to the UNDERBELLY piece. Sew ALL the way around, leaving no gap.

Step 6: Now, for the clever bit! Cut a slit in the UNDER BELLY piece as indicated by the pattern markings and turn Plattie right sides out through the slit you’ve cut.

Step 7: Sew a seam around the edge of the bill using a 5mm seam allowance to create the duck-bill-look

Step 8: Fill the bill and head area quite firmly with toy stuffing. Fill the rest of the body with toy stuffing. Place some plastic craft pellets in the body cavity, or use some rice or beans if you like! Don’t overfill it as it needs to flop like a beanbag. Looking at the photo as a guide, mark the eye positions with a permanent marker pen and sew two 4mm beads in place.

Step 9: Use a ladder stitch to close the opening on the underbelly. If the toy is for a young child, use a thick embroidery thread and sew a French knot for each eye.